The Lakers missed the 2012-13 NBA playoffs by just a single game, despite winning their season finale Wednesday against Houston.

The maddeningly close call left the Lakers and their fans wondering what might have been had the team not lost at Miami on Feb. 10, when Steve Nash misfired on a late free throw while being inadvertently distracted by his backcourt mate, Justin Timberlake.

Huh?

On Saturday, I watched Ray Romano shank a par putt from roughly 24 inches during a PGA tournament that has a $6.5 million purse, a $1.15 million first prize and 500 FedExCup points awaiting the winner.

Romano, in case you're unaware, is not a professional golfer. He's a comedian, known for playing a phony sportswriter. He's the exact opposite of me, a sportswriter known for playing a phony comedian.

Anyway, the whole strange scene got me thinking:

What might happen if other sports tried to do what golf does? What if the Ducks or Dodgers or Clippers were involved in games — actual, legitimate games, ones that count in the standings and everything — despite including the participation of talented celebrities, gifted famous people and Carson Daly?

Kobe Bryant has struggled this season to find on-court harmony with Dwight Howard, right? Now imagine Kobe trying to meld with Dwight Yoakam. Or Ron Howard. Imagine any of the Lakers trying to get in sync with 'N Sync.

As much of a drama as the Lakers have been this season, throw an Academy Award-winning actor like Denzel Washington into the timeout huddle and suddenly Metta World Peace looks completely reliable.

Jack Nicholson, of course, sits in the front row at Staples Center for Lakers games. What if the horn sounded Tuesday night and ol' Jack — dark glasses and all — entered the game against Phoenix?

The guess here is it wouldn't be pretty. At this point, Nicholson can't have a single ACL that's worthy of the NBA.

In golf, they call this weekend's tournament the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. In other sports, such an event would be more of a national pro-sham, perhaps sponsored by Nike, with Lance Armstrong as official spokesman.

How about if the Angels, trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth and needing a pinch-hitter, brought in Kenny G? OK, so Kenny probably couldn't do any worse than Maicer Izturis (2 for 22) did last season. Bad example.

Actor Bill Murray stretches with the flagstick on the fifth green of the Pebble Beach Golf Links on Saturday during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. Eric Risberg, AP
Actor Ray Romano hits a shot on the 17th tee during the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Saturday. SCOTT HALLERAN, GETTY IMAGES

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